Alabama claimed the opening game of its SEC series against Ole Miss with a 5-4 victory Thursday night in Tuscaloosa. The game was decided in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Alabama scoring three runs to overcome a 3-2 deficit.
Ole Miss led 3-2 through six innings after Dom Decker hit a leadoff homer in the first and Austin Fawley scored on a single in the second. The Rebels temporarily took the lead in the sixth when Tristan Bissetta hit his 20th homer of the season to make it 3-2.
Alabama responded in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs. Bryce Fowler’s single tied the game, and a fielder’s choice and a walk pushed the Crimson Tide ahead 5-3. Landon Waters relieved and recorded the final out of the inning. Neither team scored in the eighth, but Ole Miss scored once in the top of the ninth before running out of time.
Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott pitched well, allowing two runs on five hits over six innings, with eight strikeouts. Taylor Fay earned the win for Alabama, improving to 9-3. Matthew Heiberger earned his fourth save of the season.
The Rebels finished with nine hits, while Alabama had eight. The two teams meet again at 6 p.m. on Friday for the second game of the series.
